The release of the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results has highlighted several secondary schools across the country that excelled in science combinations, reinforcing their reputation as leading centres for STEM education.
The results, released on Friday by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), show a general improvement in candidates’ performance compared to the previous year, with more learners qualifying for university admission.
According to UNEB, a total of 166,400 candidates registered for the 2025 examinations, representing a 17.2 percent increase from the 141,996 candidates who sat the exams in 2024. Of these, 72,764 (43.7 percent) were female while 93,636 (56.3 percent) were male.
Overall performance improved significantly, with 68.6 percent of candidates attaining at least two Principal passes, the minimum requirement for admission to most university degree programmes. This translates to 113,291 students qualifying for degree courses, up from 92,273 candidates (65.5 percent) in 2024.
Leading science performers across regions
Analysis of results from several examination centres shows that a number of schools stood out for strong performance in science combinations such as PCM, PCB and combinations involving Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology.
In Acholi sub-region, top performers included Restore Leadership High School Gulu, Ocer Campion Jesuit College, Sacred Heart Secondary School Gulu, Pope John Paul II College Gulu, and Gulu Central High School. Other schools that recorded strong science performance include St Joseph’s College Layibi, Archbishop Flynn Secondary School, St Mary’s College Lacor, and Bishop Angelo Negri College Gulu.
Several institutions in the region also maintained competitive results, including Lokung Secondary School, Adilang Secondary School, Lacor Seminary, Kitgum Comprehensive College, Palabek Secondary School, Trinity College Gulu, and Sir Samuel Baker School.
In Ankole sub-region, traditional science giants once again dominated the rankings. Ntare School emerged among the top performers, followed by Maryhill High School, Alliance Secondary School Ibanda, St Thomas Vocational Secondary School Rubirizi, and Citizens Secondary School Ibanda.
Other strong science-performing schools in the region include St Mark Vocational School Nyakatoma, St Mary’s Vocational School Kyaamuhunga, St Joseph’s Vocational School Mbarara, Imperial Secondary School Ibanda, and Standard College Ntungamo.
Additional notable performers included Ntungamo Girls High School, Sacred Heart Secondary School Mushanga, Kichwamba High School, Nyakyera Secondary School, St Charles Lwanga High School Kashekuro, Ryero School, Global High School Omugyenyi, Mbarara High School, St Mark’s Secondary School Kabwohe, Bweranyangi Girls School, and Valley College Bushenyi.
Strong science performance in Buganda
In the Buganda region, several schools also posted impressive average points in science subjects. Among the leading institutions were God’s Way High School Maganjo, Cornerstone Leadership Academy, and Gayaza High School.
Other high-performing schools included St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende, Seeta High School Mukono, King’s College Budo, Budinse Memorial School, Mpigi Mixed Secondary School, Uganda Martyrs Secondary School Namugongo, and St Mary’s College Kisubi.
Additional schools that maintained solid science results include Shepherd High School Katovu, Umar Bin Al-Islamic High School, St Mary’s College Lugazi, St Henry’s College Kitovu, Midland High School Butaba, Namilyango College, Light Academy Secondary School, and St Joseph’s Secondary School Naggalama.
Bukedi region also registers strong science results
In Bukedi sub-region, science results were led by Tororo Girls’ School, followed by St Francis de Sales Secondary School, Luma Eastern College Busia, and Riverside College Tirinyi.
Other schools performing strongly in science subjects include St Peter’s College Tororo, Tororo Mixed Secondary School, Rainbow High School Busia, Great Aubrey Memorial College, Ngoma Secondary School Mbale, and Ezra Memorial Secondary School.
Further notable performers include Petta Community Secondary School, John Paul Secondary School Chelekura, Buhobe Secondary School, Mama Kevina Comprehensive Secondary School Tororo, and Rubongi Army Secondary School Tororo.
Female candidates shine proportionally
UNEB’s analysis also indicates that female candidates performed better proportionally than males at most pass levels, particularly in subjects such as Humanities, Mathematics, General Paper and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
However, male candidates still dominated the highest grades in Mathematics and core science subjects, a trend the board attributed to the higher number of male candidates enrolling in STEM combinations, although female participation is gradually increasing.
Progress but challenges remain
The results also included candidates from special interest groups. A total of 540 learners under Special Needs Education (SNE) sat the examinations, with most attaining either Principal or Subsidiary passes. Meanwhile, 68 inmates from Uganda Government Upper Prison sat the exams, with over 90 percent qualifying for the UACE certificate.
Despite the overall progress, UNEB noted that many learners still struggle to apply theoretical science knowledge to practical situations, while humanities subjects revealed weaknesses in analytical and evaluative skills.
Only 351 cases of examination malpractice—representing 0.2 percent of candidates—were recorded across 47 examination centres, with investigations still ongoing.
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